Natera (NASDAQ:NTRA) Shares Gap Up on Better-Than-Expected Earnings

Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRA)’s stock price gapped up prior to trading on Wednesday following a stronger than expected earnings report. The stock had previously closed at $135.12, but opened at $155.56. Natera shares last traded at $163.45, with a volume of 653,463 shares.

The medical research company reported ($0.26) EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.57) by $0.31. The business had revenue of $439.80 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $361.43 million. Natera had a negative return on equity of 26.88% and a negative net margin of 14.01%. Natera’s revenue was up 63.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted ($0.95) earnings per share.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

NTRA has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Natera from $125.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 13th. Craig Hallum lifted their price objective on Natera from $121.00 to $157.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Piper Sandler reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $150.00 price objective on shares of Natera in a research note on Friday, September 13th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on Natera from $120.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Natera from $135.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Natera presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $135.06.

Insider Buying and Selling at Natera

In other news, Director Rowan E. Chapman sold 2,614 shares of Natera stock in a transaction on Friday, September 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.68, for a total transaction of $333,755.52. Following the transaction, the director now owns 7,969 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,017,481.92. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, insider Jonathan Sheena sold 2,700 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.57, for a total value of $344,439.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 284,741 shares in the company, valued at $36,324,409.37. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Rowan E. Chapman sold 2,614 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, September 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.68, for a total transaction of $333,755.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 7,969 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,017,481.92. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 29,881 shares of company stock worth $3,733,983 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 7.60% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Natera

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. SG Americas Securities LLC grew its position in Natera by 1,073.1% in the 2nd quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 65,730 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $7,118,000 after purchasing an additional 60,127 shares in the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. boosted its stake in Natera by 15.1% in the first quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 74,460 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $6,810,000 after acquiring an additional 9,781 shares during the last quarter. Natixis purchased a new position in Natera in the first quarter valued at about $758,000. Chartwell Investment Partners LLC boosted its stake in Natera by 37.9% in the third quarter. Chartwell Investment Partners LLC now owns 41,302 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $5,243,000 after acquiring an additional 11,362 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Baader Bank Aktiengesellschaft purchased a new position in Natera in the second quarter valued at about $478,000. 99.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Natera Trading Up 19.1 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a current ratio of 4.14 and a quick ratio of 4.01. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.91 billion, a PE ratio of -91.46 and a beta of 1.53. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $126.04 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $114.84.

About Natera

Natera, Inc, a diagnostics company, develops and commercializes molecular testing services worldwide. Its products include Panorama, a non-invasive prenatal test that screens for chromosomal abnormalities of a fetus, as well as in twin pregnancies; Horizon carrier screening test for individuals and couples determine if they are carriers of genetic variations that cause certain genetic conditions; Vistara single-gene NIPT screens for 25 single-gene disorders that cause severe skeletal, cardiac, and neurological conditions; Spectrum, preimplantation genetic tests for couples undergoing IVF; Anora that analyzes miscarriage tissue from women; Empower, a hereditary cancer screening test; and non-invasive prenatal paternity product, which allows a couple to establish paternity without waiting for the child to be born.